Egg-allergic Quebecers have obtained greater access to the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 vaccine as a result of the first rapid clinical trial completed by Canada’s new influenza research network, which hopes its work will extend access to similar patients across Canada.

The unpublished clinical trial, coordinated by Dr. Gaston De Serres, an epidemiologist at the Quebec Institute of Public Health, involved work with four allergists in the province who administered the adjuvanted pandemic (H1N1) 2009 vaccine to 952 children and adults who are allergic to eggs. The trial was sponsored by the Public Health Agency of Canada–Canadian Institutes of Health Research Influenza Research Network (PCIRN).

The vaccinations, which took place in Quebec’s four university hospitals, were completed by November 11. Despite being allergic to eggs, none of the patients experienced anaphylactic reactions to the egg protein in the vaccine, De Serres says.

“Among these more than 900 patients, none had that,” Serres says. “That’s a reassuring result. There were two allergic reactions that were treated with [diphenhydramine hydrochloride] Benadryl but were mild cutaneous reactions. We were pretty happy with that.”

I wonder what they'll advise when the regular flu shot becomes available...should they consider giving this to the egg allergic individuals who are also at high risk due to asthma and other medical conditions?

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